Behind The Shield

Dr Mike Simpson is a Special Forces veteran, Emergency Medicine physician and SWAT Medic. In this second conversation, we discuss his new book "Honed", forging longevity in the tactical athlete, testosterone, Afghanistan and so much more.

David Prochera Best is a veteran helicopter pilot, working with both British and Canadian armed forces. We discuss his journey into the RAF, flying in the Middle East, Search and Rescue, working alongside Prince William, his near misses, EMS transport, his physical and mental health challenges and much more,

Julian Serrano is a firefighter, smoke diver and endurance athlete. We discuss his challenges entering the fire service, overcoming his physical and mental obstacles, losing Emilio Rivera to suicide, mentoring potential firefighters, seeking discomfort and so much more.

Kristen Ziman is a 30 year law enforcement veteran, retiring as the police chief of Aurora, IL. We discuss her journey into policing, drug prohibition, tactical medicine, fitness standards, mental health, workplace shootings, school safety and so much more.

Thomas "Drago" Dzieran fled Socialist Poland, finding home in the USA. He then enlisted in the US Military, ultimately serving multiple deployments as a Navy SEAL in his 20 year career. We discuss his early life in Poland, spending two years in a Communist Gulag, his refugee story, his military journey, government overreach, cancel culture and so much more.

Wim Hof is an extreme endurance athlete, teacher, author and speaker. Using breath work and cold exposure, Wim was able to demonstrate his ability to control his autonomic nervous system. Through the Wim Hof Method, he was then able to teach others to develop control within themselves. We discuss his early life, his first cold water experience, losing his wife to suicide, dealing with grief, the innate immune response, breath and mental health, thermoregulation, inflammation and so much more.

Brandon Griffith was at his physical and mental peak as a police officer when he had a sudden cardiac arrest. Due to the quick response of his wife and the responding paramedics, Brandon ultimately returned to full duty with an implanted defibrillator. We discuss his journey into the martial arts, entering law enforcement, physical fitness, SWAT tryouts, his mental and physical recovery, the importance of early CPR and defibrillation, his non-profit Griffith Blue Heart and so much more.

Keith Dow is a Military Police veteran and co-founder of Dead Reckoning Collective. We discuss his journey into the military, the mental scars of war, transitioning out, military authors, creating a publishing company and much more.

Robert Burke is an actor and a nineteen year veteran firefighter. We discuss his early life, his journey into acting, the tragedy that inspired his fire service career, portraying General Mattis in Generation Kill, working on Rescue Me, martial arts, altruism and so much more.

Battalion Chief Steve Davis was recently terminated after refusing to impose discipline on an erroneous list of unvaccinated firefighters. Firefighter Jason Wheat was the trainer in charge of his department's fitness program before it was dismantled by his administration. We discuss the vaccine mandates that have been imposed on his department and many more around the globe, the mental health impact, losing experience, the complete disregard for overall fitness and so much more.